Maharashtra seeks law on defamatory books

After facing embarrassment in James Laine book case, the state government has demanded that the Centre must a frame a law that will enable states to ban books that defame any person, dead or alive, who is revered by the people.

After facing embarrassment in James Laine book case, the state government has demanded that the Centre must a frame a law that will enable states to ban books that defame any person, dead or alive, who is revered by the people.

The Supreme Court lifted the ban on Laine's book Shivaji: Hindu King in Islamic India on Friday.

Sources in the State's Law and Judiciary Department said the state's case had weakened because it did not have any basis like that applied in banning books of authors like Salman Rushdie.

Opposition parties have been protesting what they call the state government's failure.

RR Patil, who was instrumental in banning Laine's two books, demanded a stringent law.

"We will request the Centre to frame a law in this regard," he said.

CM Ashok Chavan said there was no merit in the Opposition's demand.

"But I will inquire deeply in this case and other cases (border dispute and Best-5) that we have lost in the courts."